Jay Cutler To Bears: Who Won In This Deal?

OK, by now we have all heard the news of quarterback Jay Cutler and his trade to the Chicago Bears for a litany of draft choices, along with the Bears' self-respect and team chemistry.

Bears fans, let it digest for a minute. Let the name "Jay Cutler" run through your soul, seep into your black and brown blood, and lastly, feel free to run to the toilet and dispose of it as you may.

On the surface, many Bears fans could be rejoicing at the move. Their team just landed a quarterback who, at 25 years old, is the prime of his career, has a cannon arm and is adequately mobile.

Stop me if I'm wrong, but that sounds eerily similar to someone who dominated the headlines in the 1990's—aka, Jeff George.

As much as people would like to tell you this trade makes sense, that is only half true. This trade made a lot of sense for the Denver Broncos.

The team was ridiculed by many NFL insiders this offseason for adding ageless wonders Brian Dawkins and Andra Davis, to name a few.

By getting first and third round picks this season, another first round pick in 2010 and another decent young quarterback in Kyle Orton, the Broncos just set themselves up to add a slew of young talent in the next two years.

The Broncos can now take camp and the preseason to decide if Chris Simms or Orton can be their signal caller. Although neither possesses the physical tools of Cutler, both have better leadership ability, which is key for a quarterback.

However, trade makes no sense for the Bears.

First, the Bears are a run-first team. Matt Forte is the building block of this offense, and with the addition of Cutler, the team will now have to the throw the ball more, or risk yet another outburst from their new quarterback.

Also, exactly who is Cutler supposed to throw the ball to?

Devin Hester improved by leaps and bounds last season, but is far from being even a poor man's Brandon Marshall. After Hester, the options for the Bears get worse and worse.

By trading away their first and third round selections, the Bears are in no position to add a weapon for Cutler either. Granted, some receivers may be there in the second round, (Heyward-Bust or Hakeem Nicks), but to ask them to step in and contribute right away would be wishful thinking.

The biggest question that remains is what exactly Cutler will do to improve himself. His offseason tirades certainly will be on the minds of Bears players and coaches, who will all be wondering just how close another outburst is.

When Forte starts carrying the load on offense and Cutler sees his numbers drop and his critics increase, will he persevere and show the leadership needed to take this team to the playoffs?

So far he has not shown any of the above, which makes this trade a very dangerous one for the Bears.